Manager finalists forum tomorrow

Villagers are invited to join a public forum introducing the three finalists for the Village manager position tomorrow, May 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the Bryan Center gym.

The forum will feature the candidates — Patti Bates of Williamsburg, Ohio, David Elmer of Pierce Township and Robert Kellogg of Sewell’s Point, Fla. — appearing individually to talk about themselves and respond to prepared questions, some of which were gathered from boxes placed around town. Following the formal presentation, an informal reception will be held, and villagers are welcome to speak individually with the finalists. Those who attend will be asked to give written comments of their impressions of the finalists.

Bates is the current Village administrator in Williamsburg, Ohio, a community slightly smaller than Yellow Springs, a position she’s held since 2006. Elmer was Township administrator for Pierce Township, in the Cincinnati area, from 2006 to earlier this year, when he resigned. He currently works on a contract as a consultant to the present administrator. Kellogg served as Town manager of Sewell’s Point, a Florida coastal community, from 2006 to 2013; before that, he was manager of Rittman, Ohio, for many years.

The finalists will spend most of two days in Yellow Springs, beginning with breakfasts with villagers representing a range of stakeholders on Thursday morning, according to Council member Brian Housh. They will then spend Thursday meeting with Village staff before the public forum. On Friday, the finalists will again share meals with villagers as well as tour the schools, Antioch College and meet with representatives of AU Midwest and Antioch University.

Council will meet in executive session at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 23, and then deliberate on the manager choice at their regular June 2 meeting. A decision on the manager choice will be made at that meeting, according to Housh.